Heating appabattts



Dec. 4, '1 92s.

w. H. SOMMER HEATING APPARATUS Filed April 10, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVERTER..-

Dec. 4, 1928.

W. H. SUMMER HEATING APPARATUS Filed April 10, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVERTER...

Dec. 4, 1928. 1,694,191

- w. H. SOMMER HEATING APPARATUS Filed April 10, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INSZ'EN DE" 6 ATIY.

W. H. SOMMER HEATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 10, 1926 r INVERTER.

Patented Dec. f, 192%.

PATENT FFlCE.

WILLIAM H. SOMMEB, OE :PEORIA, ILLINQIS.

HEATING APPARATUS.

Application filed April 10, 1926.

This invention has reference to new and useful improvements in heating apparatus and it has special reference to hot-water heaters designed for the efficient and economic consumption of fuel in the heating of dwellings.

This invention. has for one of its objects an improved construction of hot-water heater, including a boiler of the vertical type, the combustion chamber of which is formed a wall of fire-brick encased. in a wall of insulating brick, surrounding which, is a water jacket; the water being heated, reaching its highest temperature at the top of the boiler, and connected with the top of the boiler is a housing or flue chamber enclosing a plurality of fines and said housing and lines e2;- tend laterally from the top of the boiler and are directed downwardly therefrom to provide a down draft; a common inlet being provided for the water directed to the water jacket and to the housing surrounding said flues, the direction of movement of water in said housing being towards the top of the boiler with outlets from said boiler and housing in communication with a header or manifold from which the hot-watcr is con ducted to the usual radiators; the boiler and housing for the fines constituting a substantially inverted U, and the arrangement of the fines being such that by the provision of a clean-out opening at the top of the boiler ac cess may be easily had to the fines for cleaning the same.

The invention. has for a furtl er obj eot the use of as a fuel and to provide a supply line to the burner within the boil. 1; said supply line being 1L erably intercepted at one point by a thermostat having connnunication with a room of a dwelling and adapted through valve means to control the amount of s ns conducted. to the boiler in direct proportion to the tenuperature of the room; said supply line being further intercepted by a theri'uostat associated with said header or manifold and having valve means adapted to take up the lag, due to the increased ten'iperature the water and the slower increase in ten'iperature of the room in which the said first men: tioned theremostat is located; and said supply line being connected preferably at the boiler by a gas operated air regulating valve for controlling the admission of air and the proper mixture of the latter with the gas emitted to the burner. /Vhile I have elected to show means for burning gas as fuel, and conduct- Serial No. 101,130.

ing means therefor, the heater structure is such that oil may be used as the fuel, if itis so desired.

Further objects will more fully appear from the following description taken in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings, in which I show a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein Fig. 1 shows in side elevation and on a greatly red .ced scale a heating apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 shows on a somewhat larger scale and partly in eross-section the gas line, burner, thermostatic controls and the gas operated air regulating valve and air mixing chamber, part of the heating apparatus and dwelling being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a detail in plan and cross-section as the same would appear if taken on the line 33, Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a face View of the head of the adjusting screw for the thermostat communicating with a room of a dwelling, and is designed to show a gauge which may be used thereon and is as the same would appear in plan on the line 44, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a face and side view of the adjusting screw for the thermostat associated with the header or manifold, and is designed to show a gauge thereon and is as the same would appear in elevation on the line 5-5, Fig. A;

F 6 shows in cross-section and in elevation the heater, on a slightly larger scale than the same is shown in Fig. 1, the supply and theremostat being omitted;

7 is a crosssection in plan, as the same would appear if taken on the line i-7, 6, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the parts, somewhat as shown in Fig. 52, except that the air regulating valve is operated electrically from a thermostat instead of being gas operated.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

The boiler l is preferably of the vertical type, being provided with acombustion chamber 2, the immediate wall. of which is made of fire-brick 3, and said chan'iber at its upper end opens into a sul'iplemental chamber 4L through which the products of combustion pass, as indicated by the arrows of direction, and from thence said products of combustion pass into a plurality of spaced tubes 4, suitably arranged in relation to each other in a fil housing 5, forming the flue chamber. The fire-brick wall 3 of the combustion chamber is surrounded by or encased within an insulating brick wall 6, which in turn is encased within a metallic sheathing 7 between which and an outer cylindrical casing 8 is provided a water jacket 9. This water jacket 9 surrounds the combustion chamber 2 substantially throughout its length and below the bottom thereof and terminates in and communicates with a supplemental water jacket 10 which surrounds all but the front wall of the supplemental chamber and overlies the same in the manner shown in Fig. 6. In what is designated as the front wall of the supplemental chamber 4 there is provided a gas tight door 11 by means of which access may be had to the upper end of the boiler, and in particular, the supplemental chamber 1 thereof, afte first removing the insulating wall 11, whereby, to provide for the introduction of suitable flue cleaning means, for cleaning the several fiues 4. These flues, as indicated in Fig. 6, are of the down draft type and preferably extend laterally from the upper end of the boiler, horizontally for a short distance, and then by an easy curve extend down in the leg of the housing 5, opening at their lower ends into a flue box 12, which may have a suitable sewer connection for the removal or discharge of any water which may condense within said flues. The housing 5 has preferably a gas tight connection at 5 with the supplemental chamber 4 of the boiler.

The water jacket 9 of the boiler and the flue chamber of the housing 5 are connected and have communication with a water conducting pipe or header 13 extending therebetween; the main section of said pipe 13 being detachably connected to short sections 13' and 13", connected, respectively, with the water jacket 9 of the boiler and the flue chamber of the housing 5, as best seen in Fi 6, and said section 13is arranged to have connected thereto and communicating therewith the main supply or return feed pipe 14, from which extend and to which are connected a plurality of pipes 15 connected at remote points with preferably radiators, not shown, located in respective rooms of a dwelling. The flue box 12 is shown connected to a chimney or a flue 8, through and by means of a pipe connection 15, having a depending air inlet leg 16 in which is arranged, for adjustment, a damper 17, which may be set at any predetermined position, or so connected as to automatically maintain a definite amount of draft at all times, as will be understood. The use of such valve, opened or closed, will determine and regulate the draft in the flue 8, and result or not in economical use of fuel.

Connected to the upper wall of the supplemental water jacket 10 of the boiler proper, and in communication with said chamber, is apipe connection 18 and a like connection 19, is

shown connected to the housing 5 adjacent the boiler and in communication with the flue chamber therein, and to said pipe connections 18 and 19 and in communication therewith are short legs 18 and 19, which form a part or are connected to a preferably horizontally disposed header or manifold 20, provided with a supply line 21 leading to and suitably connected with radiators or the dwelling to which the hot water is to be supplied; thus the circulation of Water from the water jacket 9, and from thence through the supplemental chamber 10 and from the flue chamber of the housing 5 passes into the header or manifold 20 and out through the supply line 21 to one or more radiators and from thence back through the plurality of pipes 15, in communication with the header or pipe 1 1-, and from the latte back into the water jacket 5) and the flue chamber of the housing through the connections 13, 13 and 13", as will be readily understood.

For convenience in the or ction of the heater, the boiler 1 and the housing 5 are separate elements and are adapted to be joined, the upper portion of the housing 5 to and within the supplemental chamber l at the upper end of the boiler; also, through the connection of the supply line sections of pipe 13, 13', and

3", and by the attachment of the header or manifold 20 with the pipe connections 18 and 19, respectively, as previously described.

Extending tirough, what may be termed the front wall of the boiler, is a fuel-feed pipe 22 which terminates within the combustion chamber of the boiler and forms the burner having flame orifices 23. Said pipe 22 is connected exteriorly of the boiler with an elbow Q, the major portion of which is disposed ertically and comprises a mixing chamber 25 in which is located a fuel-nozzle or ejector 26, preferably formed integral. therewith, and said fuel-nozzle or cctor and elbow constitute sections of a chan'ibored casting 27, arranged in communication i "1th the lower portion of the combustion tllttii'lbel 2 below the burner, see Fig. (3. The ca 27 is formed or provided with a short ve disposed cylinder 28 surrounded by a fuel chamber 29, the upper end of the cylinder bei closed by a cap-plate 530 and the wall of the cylinder is provided with pli'irality of fuel-feed orilies 31, providing means of communication betr-Jeen the interior the cylinder and the chamber 29, said as mentioned chan'iber by a. suitably arran 'ed duct 32 being in comm, nozz-le or ejector 26, cinwithin the mixing chamber 25. der 28 opens out of its lower end into a fuel. inlet chamber 33 with which is connected and has communication a pipe section 34 to which is connected the main fuel-feeding line 35, being a pipe of any aitable dimensions. lVithin the cylinder 28 is operatively disposed a piston 86 which normally closes all of the orihces 31 in the wall of said cylinder against the passage of fuel thercthrough and which 15 adapted to be raised by the pressure of the fuel entering the fuelinlet chamber 38 from the line 35, whereby, more or less of said fuel is fed to the burner through the orifices 31, thence into the chamber 29 and from thence into and through the nozzle or ejector 26 into the burner pipe 'lhe piston 36 is connectcd with a piston rod 37 which extends downwardly and through the lower wall of the fuel-inlet chamber 33 and to the lower end of said piston rod is connected a float member 38 operativcly carried in a float chan'iber 39, which is adapted to contain mercury, or other liquid. Said fioat chai'nber is preferably in the form of a short cylinder, open at its upper end, and is supported by and partially within a depending casing 40 suitably connected and supp rted by the chambered casting 27; the 10 3'81 portion of said casing 4:0 being provided with air-inlet openings ll, through which air enters in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 2, and which finds circulation through the chembered casting 27 into the n'iixing chamber 25), to be mi XGCl. with fuel ejected through the non zle 26, to provide a proper combustible and which, also, finds its way from said chan'ibered casting 27 into the lower portion of the com;- bustion chamber of the boiler to provide for the proper combustion of the burned fuel emitted from the burner 22, as will be understood. Connected with the piston rod 37 an air-valve d2, normally resting on and providing a closure for the casing all), and said valve is provided with two or more air openings 4-3 therethrough. With the construction as described, it should be obvious that, when the valve 4L2 is closed the opening: l? in the casing -10 and the openings 43 in the valve 42 always provide for the entrance of a small amount (Ii Elli into the chambered casting 27, from which it n. find its way through the mixing chamber 25 to the burner and into the combustion chauiltier of the boiler below the buri'ier, and that with one of the orifices Ell in the cylinder 2% being always exposed a small amount 015 fuel may pass from the feed-line 35 through the "fi1el-ieeding chamber 33 into the fuelfeeding nozzle 26 and from thence to the burner, whereby, providing there s fuel passing through the feed line 35, a p1lot s always maintained at the burner il 'i1S inlet o't fuel from the fuel-feed line 35 1s 1ncreased from time to time, when the furnace is in "full operation, where the admission of an additional quantity of fuel, acting upon the piston 36 releases more of the orifices 31, whereby, more fuel is admitted to the burner, which upward n'iovcment of th"piston lifts the valve and provides for a co )arative increase of volume of air entering trio chann bered casting 27. As an additional controlling means for the amount of air admitted to the combustion chamber 2 of the boiler, I pro vide an adjustable valve member 27 Within said chambered casting 27, located at or near the inner discharge end of said casting, or at the point where the air leaves the casting, to provide for the proper combustible mixture in the combustion chamber of the boiler. To permit access to be had to the burner 22 for ignition purposes, or for any other purpose, l1 provide in the front wall of the boiler, immediately above the burner, a gas tight doorway 22.

li i th the arrangement of the boiler and t 10 flue chamber as shown, which includes the lo cation of the feed water pipe to the water jacket of the boiler and to the housing enclosing the tubes in substantially the same plane with the point of discharge of the prodnets of combustion from the lines and the location. of the burner in the boiler, I provide not only for an ethcient circulation of the water in the water jacket of the boiler and through the housing around the tubes, but I also provide for a more gradual raising of the temperature of the water, which reaches its highest maximum at the point of discharge of the water from the water jacket of the boiler and from the housing enclosing the tubes. insulating the boiler as I do the water becomes more gradually heated as it reaches the compartment 4, and likewise the Water conducted through the housing 5 becomes more gradually heated as it rises to the top thereof. At the points of egress of the water from boiler and housing the products of combustion are travelling counter thereto and at these points the highest temperature of the water is reached.

1 provioe in the fuel-feeding system two thermostatic controls; one a room thermostat, generally designated as 44, that operates in somewhat the usual manner of theri'nostats of this character, whereby, to increase the amount of fuel admitted to the burner of the boiler as the temperature in the room decreases, and the other generally designated as 425, which is associated with the header or manifold 20, which functions in a similar manner to the thermostat 4E4: and controls the temperature of the water passing through the header or manifold. The purpose of which,

is to take up the lag by the increased temperature of the water and the slower increase in temperature of the room in which the thermostat A; is located. The thermostat a l: is connected with and intercepts the fuel feed line 35 at a suitable point in advance of the thermostat 15, and the latter is connected with and intercepts said fuel feed line 85 at a point adjacent the header or manifold 10 and is, therefore, located at a suitable point between the location of the thermostat H and the air controlling valve 42. At the point where the Ill) thermostat 44 intercepts the fuel feed line 35 a coupling 46 is provided. An opening therein, by means of which communication is provided between one section of the fuel feed line to the other, is controlled by a suitable valve 47, operably connected to an active part 44 of the thermostat 44, the latter being operable through and by means of an adjustable screw plate 48 provided with a suitable dial or gauge 49. This dial or .gauge enables the setting of the valve 47 to the temperature which it is desired shall be maintained in the room of adwelling, and when this temperature decreases the thermostat becomes automatically actuated in the usual manner to open the valve 47 to a greater extent, thereby, pern'iitting a greater volume of fuel to pass through the fuel feeding line and the coupling 46 controlled by said valve 47. This valve is provided with a small orifice 48 therethrough, so that even though the valve may be closed, a constant supply of fuel, even of small volume, is passing through the system. The thermostat 45 differs only from the thermostat 44 in its detailed construction, the part to be affected by the temperature of the water being indicated at 49 and disposed within a tube 50 suitably carried within the header or manifold 20. Such thern'iostat is provided with an adjustable screw 51, the face plate of whicli'is provided with a dial or gauge 52 adapted to be set to the temperature of the water at which it is desired to be operated, and said adjustable screw 51 is arranged to actuate a valve member 52 controlling an opening in a coupling 53 which communicates with sections of the fuel feed line 35 and to which the same are connected, as best seen in Fig. 2, and said valve 52 is provided with an orifice 52 therethrough so that even though the valve may be closed a constant supplyof fuel, even of small volume, is passing through the system. The shut-off valve designated '54 is preferably located in the fuel-feed line in advance of the coupling 46 which may be closed when the heating apparatus is in non-use and opened again when the boiler is to be fired.

I have only briefly described the characteristics of the two thermostats 44 and 45 as I am not concerned in the specific or detailed construction thereof, as I realize that modifications and changes may be made in both of these thermostats and the means for controlling and operating the valves 47 and 52, respectively, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein, and it is only necessary to say that the part 44 operatively connected with the valve 47 of the thermostat 44 and the part 49 in operative engagement with the adjusting screw 51 of the thermostat 45 are preferably of metal known as invar, which is well understood by those skilled 1n the use of thermostats, very sensitive and efficient in operation for the purposes intended in temperature controls.

It will be apparent from the dual thermostatic control which I provide, one for a predetermined room temperature and one for a predetermined water temperature, that'as a result of tne adjustment of the two in relation to each other, I can automatically control the supply of fuel past the piston 36 to the burner, whereby, to maintain a more constant temperature of the water circulating through the hot water system. The thermostat 44 is directly affected by less temperature in the room. than the predetermined setting of such thermostat, and will automatically regulate the amountof fuel which is let into the system. I'Vhen the water reaches its maximum temperature, fixed by the predetermined setting of the thermostat 45, the latter acts to retard the flow of fuel through the system and immediately when the temperature of the water is decreased below the predetermined setting of such thermostat 45 it automatically acts to allow for an increased volume of fuel passing through the system to the burner and as long as a predetermined temperature may be maintained in the dwelling, the lesser the mount of fuel permitted to pass the valve 4? controlled by the thermostat 44; but should this temperature reduce, then said last mentioned thermostat acts to permit a greater volume of fuel to be fed through the system, to be only checked by the thermostat 45, when the ten'iperature of. the water reaches the max-- imum amount fixed by the setting of the ther mostat 45. Through this dual arrangement it should be obvious that a. maximum temperature may be very easily and-conveniently maintained with an economic useof fuel.

Irrespective of the temperature regulation or effectiveness of such temperature on the th :mostat 44, which is located at a convenient point in a dwelling, it will be obvione that the resulting action on the thermostat 45 will be determined by the general temperature of radi. tion and may or may not be affected by what occurs in the area immediately adjacent to the thermostat 44.

In Fig. 8 a modification is shown in structure and operation of the valve mechanism for controlling the supply of fuel from the fuel feed pipe to the ejector and the admission of air to the chambered casting 27.

In Fig. 2 I show a floating piston and valve which are operated solely by the gas pre sure which is set up in the fuel feeding chainber 33, whereas, the valve mechanism in Fig. 8 is actuated by electro-magnetic means from the room thern'iostat.

Reference being had to Fig. 8, the piston rod 37 has connected thereto the air valve 42 functioning substantially in the same manner as the air valve 42, and to the piston rod is connected a valve member 36 which lUO lli)

controls a valve opening and is intended to function somewhat in the same manner as the piston 36, and said piston rod 37 has further connected thereto a core operably carried in a solenoid 56, suitably supported by the chambered casting 27 and connected with said solenoid are the electrical conductors 5", which as shown lead to a. suitable room ther mostat 44; and to a suitable source of electric current for the purpose of energizin and deenergizing the solenoid 56. With this arrangement there is obviated the thern'iostat intercepting the fuel feed line 35 as previously indicated at 44; and the tl' ern'iostat 44. when it functions, as would the thermostat it, directly actuates the valve means 36 and 42. In every other respect the system is substantially as that indicated and described above. The valve member 36 has an opening 36" therethrough which permits a small quantity of fuel to be supplied through the system, in the manner above described, to provide a pilot flame at the burner at all times.

The arrangement of fuel controlling means shown on Fig. 2 has many advantages over the control of fuel shown on Fig. 8. In Fig. 8 the room thermostat electrically controls the fuel valve. It has only two positions; closed tight or open wide. As compared to a fuel feeding device that would feed a COD- stant amount of fuel per hour, the arrangement shown in Fig. 8 would have a given outside temperature, by burning one half of the time; the other half of the. time the boiler is idle. It is well known that the more nearly constant a boiler is operating, the higher its efiiciency will be. The arrangement of fuel valves in Fig. 2 permits, nearly as it is possible to have, a constant amount of fuel going into the boiler at all times, for a given outside and a given inside temperature.

What I claim is 1. In a hot-water heating apparatus, in combination, a boiler of the vertical type pro vided with a combustion chamber enclosed within a wall of fire-brick, a casing of insulating brick surrounding said fire-brick wall and the whole surrounded by a water jacket, a flue chamber communicating with the upper end of the boiler and extending laterally therefrom horizontally and terminating in a down draft, a. water supply pipe in communication with the water acket of the boiler in proximity to the lower end thereof and with the chamber surrounding the fines the discharge end. of said fines, a header connected with the water acketof the boiler and with the chamber surrounding the lines, a burner within the combustion chamber of the boiler in a plane substantially with that of the water supply pipe and. with the discharge ends of said fines, and fuel and air valve means for controlling the introduction of fuel and air to the burner and said combustion chamber.

2. In a hot-water heating apparatus, in combination, a boiler of the vertical type having a combustion chamber and a water-jacket insulated therefrom, a burner located in the combustion chamber near the lower end thereof, a flue chamber and fines, said chamber in communication with the combustion chamber at the top thereof and extending horizontally therefrom and terminating in downwardly extending leg, means for admitting water to the water-jacket and to said chamber approximate their lower ends, means for conducting heated water from said water-jacket and chamber at their upper ends, the arrangement for the circulation of water and products of combustion providing for their movements in counter directions at the top of the heater where the water reaches its maximum temperature, and means for conducting a fuel to said burner, including fuel and air controlling means.

3. In hot-water heating apparatus, a vertical boiler having a combustion chamber and a water jacket, a water-containing 'flue box disposed to one side of the boiler and spaced therefrom, a flue chamber connected to the top of the boiler and extending horizontally therefrom and being curved downwardly and connected to the flue box, lines in the flue chamber communicating with the combustion chamber and with the interior of the flue box, a water conduit between the lower end of the flue chamber and the water jacket of the boiler, a water supply pipe connected to said conduit between the ends of the latter, a header connected to the upper end of the boiler and communicating with the water jacket thereof and with the upper end of the flue chamber, a hot water outlet pipe connected to the header, a burner in the combustion chamber, and means to conduct fuel to the burner.

4. In a hot-water heating apparatus, a vertical boiler having a combustion chamber and a water jacket, a water-containing flue chamber connected to the top of the boiler and extending horizontally therefrom and being curved downwardly and terminating in spaced relation to the boiler to one side thereof, flucs in the flue chamber communieating with the cou'iliiustion chan'ibcr, means to conduct the products of combustion from the lower ends of the fines, a conduit interposed between the lower ends of the water jacket and flue chamber, means to admit water to the conduit intermediate its ends, a header connected to the top of the water jacket and to the top of the flue chamber, a hot water outlet connected to the header, and a fuel burner in'the combustion chamber.

5. In a hotwater heating apparatus, a vertical boiler having a combustion chamber and a water jacket, a water-containing flue chamber connected to the top of the boller and extending horizontally therefrom and being curved downwardly and terminating; in spaced relation to the boiler to one side thereof, fines in the flue chamber communicating with the combustion chamber, means to conduct the products of combustion from the lower ends of the fines, a conduit interposed between the lower ends of the Water jacket and flue chamber, means to admit Water to the conduit intermediate its ends, means for conducting heated Water from the upper ends of the Water jacket and flue chamber, and a fuel burner in the combustion chamber.

6. In a hot-Water heating apparatus, a vertical boiler having a combustion chamber and a water jacket, a Water-containing flue chamber connectemv to the top of the boiler and extending horizontally therefrom and bein curved donuiwardly and terminating in spaced relation to the boiler to one side thereof, flues in the flue cham er communicating with the combustion chamber, means to con duct the products of combu t on from the lower ends of the flues, means supply Water to the lower ends of the Water jacket and flue chamber, means for conducting heated Water from the upper ends of the Water jflClKQ/G and flue chamber and a fuel burner in the combustion chamber.

WILLIAM H. SOMMER. 

